Dr. Holt is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, was a Past Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is a life-time member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. She was Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Missouri in Columbia where she graduated at the top of her class. She received her MD with Honors from the University of Missouri where she served as President of the local chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society and was selected as a student member of its national Board of Directors. Dr. Holt completed her residency in ophthalmology at Missouri and subsequently served two years as a Major in the US Army as Chief of Ophthalmology at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Georgia. She was recognized as the Outstanding Young Physician graduate of the University of Missouri in 1989.
The Holts moved to San Antonio in 1978 where Dr. Holt joined the faculty of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Health Science Center. She served the department as Director of Education, Residency Program Director and Interim Chairman before entering private practice in 1985. During her academic time, she wrote numerous scientific articles, book chapters and monographs on subjects ranging from facial trauma, eyelid reconstruction, cosmetic blepharoplasty, cataract surgical techniques, resident education and medical ethics. She served as Chief of Staff at North Central Baptist Hospital and was President of the Baptist Health System Medical Executive Board for two years. In 1999 she received her Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Trinity University and served as Adjunct Professor there having developed a graduate course on “Physician Relations” to the students. At Trinity, she was a member of the Leadership Advisory Board for the HCA department and was selected as the Distinguished Faculty Award winner. She continues to be recognized in the listings of The Best Doctors in America, and “Texas Super Doctors”.
Nationally, she has been a member of the American College of Physician Executives and was the first female President of the Southern Medical Association. She lectured for these organizations throughout the United States on subjects of leadership, practice management, and health systems and policy. In 2009 she was presented with the Southern Medical Association’s Distinguished Service Award in recognition of a career dedicated to promoting the profession of medicine. For ten years, she directed a course on “Comparative Healthcare Systems” for the Auburn University Physicians MBA program, traveling and studying health systems in England, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Australia. To make time for these administrative duties, Dr. Holt discontinued her surgical practice, but is available for complete ophthalmological consultation in the office. She has maintained her practice as a participating physician in the Medicare program.
Nineteen years ago, Dr. Holt and a few colleagues began a fundraising effort to support breast cancer survivors. “Women in Medicine and Law for the Cure“ has brought hundreds of female physicians and lawyers together to promote the event. They surpassed their $2,000,000 goal in cumulative donations sent to Susan G. Komen® in the form of a restricted grant for medical research. In recognition of her efforts, Dr. Holt was selected to be a “Global Ambassador” for this organization. In 2019, the WIMLC “re-invented” itself and will be supporting the DIVA program of ThriveWell Cancer Foundation.
She is married to G. Richard Holt, M.D, D Bioethics and professor emeritus of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at UTHSCSA. The Holt’s have two adult daughters, Allyson and Andrea, and a son, Adam. They are also proud grandparents of six delightful grandsons; Benjamin, Noah, Jack, Austin, Sawyer, and Henry, and three granddaughters, Annelise, Madeline, and Hannah.